Extendable trailer loader/unloader with user interface section

Abstract

An extendable conveyor has an extendable conveyor section supported in a cantilevered manner including at least one extendable conveyor unit that is extendable between an extended position and a retracted position nested within the extendable conveyor section. The conveyor further includes a user interface section supported in a cantilevered manner from the extendable conveyor unit.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
       1. An extendable conveyor for conveying articles between a particular location and a selectable variable location, comprising: 
       a support structure;  
       a mechanically extendable section which is extendable along a longitudinal axis between a fully retracted position and a fully extended position, said mechanically extendable section supported in a cantilever fashion by said support structure, said mechanically extendable section having a conveying surface; and,  
       a user interface section which is horizontally adjustable with respect to said longitudinal axis of said extendable section, wherein said user interface section is supported in a cantilever fashion by said mechanically extendable section.  
     
     
       2. The extendable conveyor of  claim 1  wherein said user interface section is also vertically adjustable with respect to said mechanically extendable section. 
     
     
       3. The extendable conveyor of  claim 2  wherein said user interface section is vertically adjustable between an upper and a lower limit and said mechanically extendable section is vertically upwardly adjustable after said user interface section has been adjusted to said upper limit and is vertically adjustable downwardly after said user interface section has been extended to said lower limit. 
     
     
       4. The extendable conveyor of  claim 3  wherein said user interface section and said mechanically extendable section are vertically adjustable by mechanical power. 
     
     
       5. The extendable conveyor of  claim 3  wherein said user interface section and said mechanically extendable section can vertically adjust said user interface section to be in contact with a floor defined in said selectable variable location. 
     
     
       6. The extendable conveyor of  claim 1  wherein said user interface section is longitudinally movable along said mechanically extendable section when said mechanically extendable section is fully retracted. 
     
     
       7. The extendable conveyor of  claim 6  wherein said user interface section is manually movable along said mechanically extendable section when said mechanically extendable section is fully retracted. 
     
     
       8. The extendable conveyor of  claim 1  wherein said user interface section is longitudinally movable only along a portion of said mechanically extendable section when said mechanically extendable section is extended. 
     
     
       9. The extendable conveyor of  claim 6  wherein said mechanically extendable section is extendable between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position only when said user interface section has been moved adjacent a forward end of said mechanically extendable section. 
     
     
       10. The extendable conveyor of  claim 1  wherein the horizontal adjustability of said user interface section is manually powered. 
     
     
       11. The extendable conveyor of  claim 1  wherein said support structure is a base unit and said user interface section can be retracted into said base unit. 
     
     
       12. The extendable conveyor of  claim 1  wherein said user interface section includes a conveying surface. 
     
     
       13. The extendable conveyor of  claim 1  wherein said user interface section is vertically adjustable with respect to said longitudinal axis of said extendable section and including an actuator for vertically adjusting said user interface section with respect to said longitudinal axis of said extendable section. 
     
     
       14. The extendable conveyor of  claim 13  wherein said actuator comprises a linear actuator. 
     
     
       15. The extendable conveyor of  claim 13  wherein said actuator comprises an electric motor. 
     
     
       16. The extendable conveyor of  claim 13  wherein said actuator actuates in a substantially horizontal direction. 
     
     
       17. The extendable conveyor of  claim 13  wherein said actuator is pivotally attached at a first point at one end of a lever, said lever pivoted at a second pivot point at an opposite end of said lever, wherein an axis passing through said pivot points is generally perpendicular to the direction of activation of said actuator. 
     
     
       18. The extendable conveyor of  claim 13  including an operator control panel on said user interface section that operates said actuator. 
     
     
       19. The extendable conveyor of  claim 1  wherein said user interface section has another conveying surface. 
     
     
       20. The extendable conveyor of  claim 19  wherein said conveying surface and said another conveying surface define a substantially continuous trailer loading conveying surface. 
     
     
       21. The extendable conveyor of  claim 19  wherein said conveying surface and said another conveying surface define a substantially continuous trailer unloading conveying surface. 
     
     
       22. The extendable conveyor of  claim 19  wherein said conveying surface comprises a conveyor belt and said another conveying surface comprises a conveyor belt. 
     
     
       23. The extendable conveyor of  claim 22  wherein said conveying surface and said another conveying surface comprise separate conveyor belts. 
     
     
       24. The extendable conveyor of  claim 1  wherein said conveying surface comprises rollers. 
     
     
       25. The extendable conveyor of  claim 1  wherein said mechanically extendable section comprises a plurality of extendable conveyor units and wherein said user interface section is supportable from an outermost one of said plurality of extendable conveyor units. 
     
     
       26. The extendable conveyor of  claim 1  wherein said conveying surface is a trailer loading conveying surface. 
     
     
       27. The extendable conveyor of  claim 1  wherein said conveying surface is a trailer unloading conveying surface. 
     
     
       28. The extendable conveyor of  claim 1  including a support base supportable at a forward end of said mechanically extendable section and at least one movable support supported by said support base, wherein said moveable support supports said user interface section as said user interface section is horizontally adjusted about a substantially vertical axis. 
     
     
       29. The extendable conveyor of  claim 28 , wherein said at least one movable support supports said user interface section forward of said substantially vertical axis. 
     
     
       30. The extendable conveyor of  claim 29 , wherein said at least one movable support is selected from the group consisting of shoes, wheels and balls. 
     
     
       31. The extendable conveyor of  claim 30 , wherein said support base includes a support surface, said at least one movable support movably engaging said support surface as said user interface section is horizontally adjusted. 
     
     
       32. The extendable conveyor of  claim 28 , wherein said at least one movable support is selected from the group consisting of shoes, wheels and balls. 
     
     
       33. The extendable conveyor of  claim 28  wherein said user interface section is vertically adjustable about a substantially horizontal axis and including an actuator for vertically adjusting said user interface section about said substantially horizontal axis. 
     
     
       34. The extendable conveyor of  claim 1  including a first frame which is supportable by said mechanically extendable section at said forward end of said mechanically extendable section; 
       a second frame supporting said user interface section from said first frame, said second frame being pivotable with respect to said first frame about a generally vertical axis to provide horizontal adjustability of said user interface section with respect to said first frame and said mechanically extendable section within a range of horizontal adjustability; and  
       at least one item selected from the group consisting of shoes, wheels and balls between said first frame and said second frame to provide cantilever support of said user interface section throughout said range of horizontal adjustability.  
     
     
       35. The extendable conveyor of  claim 34  wherein said user interface section is pivotable with respect to said second frame about a generally horizontal axis to provide vertical adjustability of said user interface section with respect to said extendable conveyor section; and further including an actuator which is operable to vertically adjust said user interface section about said generally horizontal axis. 
     
     
       36. The extendable conveyor of  claim 34 , wherein said at least one item is positioned forward of said generally vertical axis. 
     
     
       37. The extendable conveyor of  claim 34  wherein said user interface section has another conveying surface. 
     
     
       38. The extendable conveyor of  claim 37  wherein said conveying surface and said another conveying surface define a substantially continuous trailer loading conveying surface. 
     
     
       39. The extendable conveyor of  claim 37  wherein said conveying surface and said another conveying surface define a substantially continuous trailer unloading conveying surfaces.